[Closed] Rugby thread 2016/2017

I think it is both understandable and inevitable that few Scots would go. Jonny Grays form dipped these last few weeks, plenty of good second row cover, plenty of good back rows around and its clear the 50 / 50 decisions would go against the scots. Also the style of play the scots are used to playing is too far away from Gatlands way. Russell was never going to go - he needs familiar players around him and he is about as far from Gatlands ideal 10 as you can be. I wouldn't have taken him. I'd have Farrell at 10 first

Watson and Dunbar are the two really hard done by - both the best in their position in the 6N

I bet you tho neither Hogg or Seymour get a test start. North will play instead of Seymour and 1/2p instead of Hogg

Watson and Dunbar are the two really hard done by

TJ that first 35 minutes of Scot Vs Wales, the Scots were no where they imploded and good Scottish side took the game to them and I have to say Wales were within a whisker of beating England, brutally competed Ireland off-the pitch and should have won against France.

Watson is a good player but not better than those going, the case for Launchbury is clearer - he had played exceptionally in all the 6 nations games and i would have included instead of lawes or henderson - Maitland is good but Loopy finishes better and played well this year.

Farrell seems to be competing for 10 not 12 with O'Teo the lead for 12, rightly or wrongly, the backs choosen have some serious attacking potential and interchangeable in position Daly outside centre, wing or full back. Joseph can be unstoppable and unplayable just ask the Scots.

The lions will have to attack to win, but the expectations will be ball carrying forwards making the ground and linking play with width and speed the key, hence the choice of really good ball handlers, Mako/Sinkler/Ijote even Owens can play a bit if you point him the right direction. The back row looks immense ( even without Watson) CJ possibly the best backrow in the six nations close second Warbs, and a fit Billy ( minus table cloth) with Tipuric, Moriarty to come on....... Impressive.

TJ I will take the bet that Hogg starts a Test.North is the starter in front of Seymour by a way.

vondally - I'd have maitland instead of 1/2p not loopy liam who I thought was very good - so you have maitland and loopy liam who can cover both wing and FB. Maitland prefers to play FB - thats why he left Glasgow

I agree and said above that although some scots can feel hard done by its not an obvious injustice bar [i]perhaps[/i] Watson as they guys they are competing with are of a very similar standard - Watsons problem is he plays for a crap club side and no one but us scots had heard of him until this 6N. He was the standout 7 of the 6N tho.

Scotland took Wales apart - Wales didn't implode - they simply could not compete. Two halves of playing to yor potential ( against Ireland and Wales) do not really showcase your talents tho do they.

Lauchberry is a funny one - again I would have taken him.

TJ - sorry but I was in the East Stand for the games this year and pretty much Wales capitulation was an implosion, some good half time talking to the Scots yes Visser transformation was incredible but it was all helped by a lack of leadership in Welsh ranks and a plan they could implement like catching the ball or completing that line out. Watson played exceptionally when he came on but Wales could have been clear by 35 minutes.

Still would have 1/2 P over Maitland.

The second half "performance" from Walrs v scotland was an odd one. Looked to be playing poorly but were in charge first half and then after a couple of defensive lapses they seemed to be all at sea. Scotland certainly gave them defe sive problems they wetent expecting which is odd as Scotland played as expected, maybe the coaches had half an eye on England, Ireland and France who are all more direct.

Have to say it; wales were poor. Not poor by means of playing crap, they have loads of quality but their game management was woeful. Their shape was quite un-walesey too, howley experimenting?
Vondally is right, they lacked leadership which is partly why I'm so surprised that the lauded captains (one who got the job) for the Lions were both welsh.
I think that it [i]could[/i] be viewed that wales are a team of good players under performing and scotland were a team of decent players doing the bizz (for the most part).

So, no rugby at all this weekend. What should I do?

Would you like me to discuss the "merits" of various welsh players?

Euro games are on. Can Munster deal with Sarries any better than Glasgow did?

Would you like me to discuss the "merits" of various welsh players?

Would be a first!!

Euro games are on.

Really?!?!? 😉

How about discussing getting this lad out of his ground humping contract and back playing proper rugby?

Well both North and Charteris appear to have giraffe ancestry with their long necks. I suppose that could be considered a "merit"

As an aside what lovely basic skills for that last try, draw a man and give a simple pass..why the **** can the welsh backs not do

You could tell me again how Seymour is a better wi ger than North?
Or you could tell me how you feel about there being more more Kiwis than Scots in the lions squad??

^^Giraffeist! ^^

Is there really more kiwis that scots in the team,wow that must smart 🙂

😉

cos he outplayed him head to head, score tries per cap at a higher rate and is much better looking? Infact he should join Edinburgh! ( Tennessee Tam that is - North is too ugly for Edinburgh) altho I am beginning to think our contractual obligations to only have good looking players with good hair is having adverse effects on our playing standards. Perhaps Henson needs to Join Edinburgh?

I'm really not arsed that much about the scots in the lions - should be good for Scotland next 6N

TJ now i agree on the potential for Scotland next 6 nations, but more away games so will test them.

Have my tickets for the Euro finals in a couple of weeks so watching eagerly this weekend

Payne and Teo are Kiwis, Seymour is an american.
Lets also not forget the Vunipolas are welsh, thats 14 welshmen and one scot

Aye - one scot is worth 14 welshmen!

Yep second that....Scotland should be pretty strong next 6n's....France always go well year after a Lions tour too. England stand to be hardest hit obviously with more players in the squad....although we have by far the best strength in depth.

Last Lions tour pretty much ended Hibbard and Tom Youngs' international careers.....whom do we reckon will fall victim this time around?

True TJ,imagine how physically tough the lions tour will be,might be a blessing in disguise for the scots.

True TJ,imagine how physically tough the lions tour will be,might be a blessing in disguise for the scots.

Well, as Scotland are touring [s]and getting mullered by[/s] Australia....

score tries per cap at a higher rate

Evidence please!

Moving to the pig ****ers esstentially ended his international career, especially when he pulled out of a welsh game injured and then played for the pig ****ers

Mullered? We are not Wales you know - our recent record against Aus is not bad 😉 Last time we played them down under we won IIRC.
Its actually looking like a good tour in terms of tests with playing Fiji, Italy and Aus so a chance to play some fringe players and build for next year

Evidence AA? - you provided it in an earlier mass debate over this. Tennessee Tam was a try every 2nd game but north was 2 tries in 5 games IIRC

You remember wrong!

North is much younger and with twice as many tries and caps too.

Seymour 36 caps 16 tries 2.25
North 69 caps 30 tries 2.30
Including lioons caps 72/32 2.25!!

[quote="AA"] Really North has 32 tries from 72 internationals and is 24. Seymour 36 caps 16 tries and is 28.

Shine a light - maths was never my strong point - using a calculator both are at 0.44 tries per cap from your figures

One thing you cannot refute - Seymour is the better looking chap
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

Dagnamitt - posted wrong linky!

Well he has a better beard anyway 😉

AA - a wee project if you want to amuse yourself

a pretty boys 15 V and ugly barstewards 15.

Or - a hobbits 15 - captain master samwise ie Ross Ford, Frodo ie Laidlaw at 9. 1/2p at full back - I suspect him of being 100% Hobbit

A Hobbit
[img] [/img]
Ex Scotland captain
[img] [/img]

Seymours youtube highlights 18mins of running in intercepts and catching the odd high ball, I got bored after 3 mins!!

George North "probably the best player on tour" some aussie bloke about the 21 yearold test lion

Pretty boys 15

Henson
Henson
Henson
Henson
Henson
Cips
Henson
Parisse
Henson
Henson
Henson
Henson
Henson
Hibbards Hair
Henson

LOL

And the referee has to be.....the man....the dreamboat....
[img] [/img]

*Swoons*

Captain
[img] [/img]

Cracking first half Munster / Sarries

Munster with all the play and might well rue the missed chances but Sarries reverting to type - dirty team. 3 pens for foul play one yellow and 2 (missed by the ref) high tackles in the first half

Itoje needs to temper his keenness to get involved and stay in the rules - given away a couple of stupid penalties

Will defending for most of the first half cost sarries at the end of the match? Will all those visits to the 22 and no points from them cost Munster?

Sarries step it up in the second half. taking the game away from Munster. Awesome efficient machine - I just wish they would cut out the foul play but when you have a lenient ref like Poite it seems to work. Two more unpunished high tackles including one in the build up to the second try - munster got away with one as well

Wow. Saracens are bloody good aren't they? Murray was a big loss but there could have been three of him on the field today, and I don't think they'd have won anyway. If Satacens are the new European standard, then Munster will have to step up again. That was as good as a home game for Munster and Sarries dealt with that very well.

A semi-final seemed like a ridiculous proposition at the beginning of the campaign and given the start that Minster had, losing Foley like that, I think they've done themselves proud. Plenty of promising players coming through - a B&I cup victory for the As last night.

Over to Leinster now. Tough away game at Clermont (who I'd happily see win it if Leinster don't come away with the victory).

Indeed Darcy - their defence in the 22 especially was very good - the amount of possession in the 22 Munster had in the first half but no tries. Ruck work very good as well.

the amount of possession in the 22 Munster had in the first half but no tries

You kinda get used to that watching Ireland in the 6N. 😀

Munster fully deserved that loss. Not because they're necessarily worse team, but because they opted to play such dull, negative rugby. I remember them passing along the line only one occassion and the (islander?) Centre massacred an overlap. Given the stats, if they had they played with even a little ambition the outcome could well have been a lot different.

but because they opted to play such dull, negative rugby

That was expansive positive stuff for Munster!!

I agree with Wrecker - they kept on trying to bash it up in the forwards and got nowhere. I think losing Murray really hurt them tho - at least once the SH hesitated long enough for a gap to disappear.

Credit Sarries defence as well tho - they really shut them down and denied them space but Munster had enough possession and territory especially in the first half to get a try or two

Given that Saracens butchered three tries (two from the backs and Kruis dropping the ball on the line) the scoreline flattered Munster.